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238:, the tower is one of the most strikingly successful Streamline Moderne structures ever realised in New South Wales. Although altered internally, the shell of the auditorium remains. Strongly influenced by Expressionism, the auditorium is one of the most striking theatre interiors ever realised in New South Wales."
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In 2019, Kennedy Miller sold the building to the Abacus
Property Group, amidst hopes by members of the local community that it could become a community centre and theatre. Heritage listed by the City of Sydney including the interior, it was nominated by them to the NSW Heritage Register in 2019. The
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We are devastated at this news, and this heritage gem will be lost forever after this irrevocable alteration for a business plan that stacks up or has longevity... Thank you for your support over the years. Sadly, despite much pressure for local residents, due to a system stacked against us and the
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Metro-Minerva
Theatre Action Group (MTAG) was formed in 2019 to lobby and campaign for the reinstatement of the Minerva to a fully functioning theatre. In 2021, property developer Central Element purchased the building from Abacus.
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in 1950, before returning to live shows in 1969. It ceased operating as a theatre in 1979. From 2019 onwards, there were community efforts to ensure the building would continue operating as a theatre.
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style in New South Wales. The Metro
Theatre has an expertly controlled geometric massing of the exterior form, exhibiting all the trademarks of the Streamline Moderne style. Strongly influenced by
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In May 1941 it was leased by
Whitehall Theatrical Productions, an independent production company. They remained in the venue for almost a decade, staging their last show there in April 1950.
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In 1937, David N Martin, a theatrical publicity and advertising agent, formed a new theatre company named
Minerva Centre Ltd to erect two live theatres on opposite sides of Macleay Street,
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On 9 November 2023, the City of Sydney approved plans for the Metro-Minerva building to become a hotel/nightclub. The MTAG website was then updated with the below message:
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and is now the
Fitzroy Gardens. The site in front of the Minerva facing Macleay Street was developed as the Minerva Cafe and Nightclub, with a vaulted roof.
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was rejected in favour of a more modest design by cinema specialists Crick & Furse, which opened on 18 May 1939 with a production of Robert
Sherwood's
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230:"The Metro Theatre, although altered, is an exceptional example and represents the apotheosis of the Art Deco
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318:"'We can't lose this': Hope renewed after purchase of derelict art deco theatre in Sydney by Gretel Packer"
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purchased the building in 1950 and converted to a movie theatre, renaming it the Metro Cinema.
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In 1979 the building was converted to a market. In the early 1980s, it became offices for the
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theatre was designed for comfort, with lounge seating and only 1000 seats. The stage had a
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Central
Element put the building on the market in January 2024 and it was sold to
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returned the venue to live theatre in 1969 with a production of the musical
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259:"Metro (The) including interior | NSW Environment, Energy and Science"
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395:"'Final curtain call for Kings Cross': Theatre to become new hotel"
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142:. The site for the other proposed theatre site was acquired by the
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Theatre
Australia (Un)limited: Australian Theatre Since the 1950s
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369:"Official | Metro Minerva Theatre Action Group | Potts Point"
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200:'s company Sacred Firebird for $ 26 million in July 2024.
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The City of Sydney heritage citation states that :
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132:. An early design for the Orwell Street site by
192:inertia of the NSW arts minister, we have lost.
436:. University of Queensland Press. p. 83.
432:Dimond, Jill & Kirkpatrick, Peter (2000).
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316:Gerathy, Sarah; Nichols, Sam (23 July 2024).
224:design and there were two small side stages.
284:"The Minerva Theatre and Metro Kings Cross"
153:Opening night, Minerva Theatre, 18 May 1939
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373:Metro Minerva Theatre Potts Point Sydney
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33:The Minerva Theatre building in 2019
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393:Morris, Linda (10 November 2023).
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342:Morellini, Jade (11 April 2018).
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828:1939 establishments in Australia
434:Literary Sydney: A Walking Guide
838:Art Deco architecture in Sydney
486:Australian Catholic University
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660:Riverside Theatres Parramatta
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843:Kings Cross, New South Wales
455:. Rodopi. pp. 79, 180.
112:located in Orwell Street in
16:Australian performance venue
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478:"Minerva Theatre (Sydney)"
263:www.environment.nsw.gov.au
212:Minerva Theatre, June 1947
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833:Former theatres in Sydney
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513:at TheatreHeritage.org.au
507:at TheatreHeritage.org.au
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180:film production company.
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703:The Concourse, Chatswood
451:Milne, Geoffrey (2004).
344:"No Metro for the Cross"
79:33.871866°S 151.224339°E
745:Griffin Theatre Company
665:Sydney Coliseum Theatre
792:Phillip Street Theatre
564:Belvoir Street Theatre
511:Metro Theatre (Part 3)
505:Metro Theatre (Part 2)
482:Sydney Theatre History
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84:-33.871866; 151.224339
772:Her Majesty's Theatre
698:Marian Street Theatre
584:Roslyn Packer Theatre
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721:Darlinghurst Theatre
288:dictionary of sydney
693:Independent Theatre
688:Glen Street Theatre
161:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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848:Theatres in Sydney
604:Sydney Opera House
232:Streamline Moderne
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49:, New South Wales
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683:Ensemble Theatre
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637:New Theatre
353:21 December
294:21 December
268:21 December
130:Potts Point
114:Kings Cross
82: /
70:151°13′28″E
57:Coordinates
47:Kings Cross
822:Categories
624:Inner West
496:9 February
242:References
222:proscenium
67:33°52′19″S
404:5 January
51:Australia
322:ABC News
218:Art Deco
568:Belvoir
327:24 July
124:History
110:theatre
43:Address
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290:. 2016
204:Design
108:was a
95:Owner
498:2015
457:ISBN
438:ISBN
406:2024
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296:2019
270:2019
216:The
170:Hair
104:The
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